School careers ambassador and young health champion Darcy L joined Baroness Nicky Morgan and representatives from the Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) for the launch of ‘Examining the Skills Gap’ – a report that outlines evidence-led insights into the scale of a skills and workforce shortage in the NHS.

Produced by the CEC’s Health Sector Advisory Group, the report highlights that while many young people are enthusiastic about careers in healthcare, their awareness is often limited to a narrow range of roles – primarily doctors and nurses. Among the barriers to recruitment identified in the report are inconsistent access to work experience and a lack of awareness of more than 350 NHS career pathways, ranging from pharmacy technicians and mental health professionals to roles in community-based care.

The report proposes long-term solutions to address these issues including the further use of work experience to deepen young people’s interest in health and social care, embedding careers awareness about health and social care within the curriculum, and empowering teachers to inform their students about a wider variety of careers in the health sector.  

Sharing her thoughts at the launch of the report, Year 10 careers ambassador Darcy stressed the importance of employer interactions as an effective means of career inspiration: “We need more young people to be aware of the wide variety of roles available. I really do think it’s important that we start talking about careers and work earlier. From working with employers throughout my time in high school, I have been able to explore lots of different roles. I’ve learnt about so many people and have identified clear role models who inspire me.

“Building this knowledge has allowed me to appreciate that what I am learning about could lead to a healthcare career in my local area. I know that the skills I am developing through employer engagement opportunities and career events are preparing me to be a valued part of the future workforce.”

Earlier this year, Darcy and fellow Year 10 careers ambassador Evelyn W were invited to share their thoughts on careers education at a regional student voice event hosted by the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Growth Skills Hub. Prior to this, the ambassadors met with Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart to discuss the need for greater work experience opportunities for young people.  

Darcy added: “Most kids don’t know what they want to do after school. If work experience isn’t just a one-off thing, maybe two weeks which students organise themselves, they will definitely learn more. For me, I know work experience has helped me to be more independent and I have developed skills that will help me in the future.

“I definitely think there should be more opportunities for work experience and I know that the NHS does too. That’s why they run a variety of engagement projects and it is why we gathered at the House of Lords to highlight this.”

Among the engagement initiatives Darcy has taken part in are Step into Healthcare, a national programme that contributed to the foundational work for the skills gap report, and Young Health Champions - a support initiative to promote healthcare careers, healthy lifestyles and well-being among her peers and younger students.

Darcy added: “In my role as a careers ambassador, I have run sessions with Year 7 students to share my learning and help them start thinking about their futures. As a young health champion, the projects I have led at school are helping to enhance the work that the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board does to promote careers.”

Reflecting on the experience of being invited to speak at the launch event, as one of only two youth panel contributors, Darcy said: “I was really nervous but excited. To be asked to share my opinions in the House of Lords in front of so many important people, including Baroness Morgan and NHS representatives from all around the country, made me feel really valued. To be part of a national conversation was really special.” 

Viki Foster, careers leader at Withernsea High School, said: “We are so proud that Darcy was asked to take part in the launch of the skills gap report. She has worked incredibly hard over the last year, both as a careers ambassador and as a young health champion. Although she has been part of a number of teams during these activities, it is her own personal journey that has shone through. She has gone from being incredibly nervous at one of the first student voice meetings to having the confidence to speak and lead the way at a number of key events.

“This year has been a period of learning and growing for her and the opportunity to attend the skills report launch in the House of Lords was an amazing chance for her to demonstrate her new-found skills and confidence. The development of these qualities has been truly inspirational to witness and we are delighted that she fully embraced this fantastic opportunity.”

Headteacher Mark Crofts added: “Being invited to speak at the launch of this landmark report is an incredible accolade, not only for Darcy but for the school as well. Darcy’s work as a careers ambassador and young health champion has stood her in good stead for her involvement in careers development at a national level.

“The projects she has been involved with, as part of our careers programme, have not only helped Darcy to build knowledge, they have also helped her to grow in confidence. This demonstrates the impact of our Board for Change, under which all our ambassador roles work together as a combined voice for student-led change. Our core purpose as a school is to develop confident young people who can thrive in a changing world, and Darcy is a shining example of this in action.”

Among those present at the national launch event was Fiona Headridge, careers hub lead, who said: “The Hull and East Yorkshire Careers Hub was incredibly proud to see Darcy speak so confidently in the House of Lords about what makes good quality careers provision in schools. She highlighted, with great clarity and passion, way beyond her years, that high-quality careers education is not simply about ticking boxes or handing out leaflets, but about giving every young person the knowledge, skills and inspiration to make informed choices about their future.

“Darcy spoke about the importance of meaningful work experience and regular encounters with employers, explaining how these opportunities help students build confidence, develop employability skills and gain a realistic understanding of the world of work. She rightly pointed out that when young people see a variety of pathways and hear directly from professionals, it broadens their horizons and raises aspirations. Darcy noted that this work needs to start with young people as early as possible.

“Her speech was thoughtful and articulate, reminding us all that careers provision should be an integral part of education rather than an afterthought. We are delighted that Darcy has been able to share her perspective on such an important platform. Her contribution no doubt inspired employers and national decision makers to advocate for better support for young people to help them prepare for their futures.”

In collaboration with NHS stakeholders, including representatives from Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and individual NHS Trusts, the Health Sector Advisory Group is working with local careers hubs to design place-based solutions to address the national workforce shortage in the NHS. As of February 2024, this shortage has left over 121,000 vacancies unfilled, with a further projected shortfall of 360,000 staff by 2036.

Shajeda Ahmed, chairwoman of the Health Sector Advisory Group, said: “The NHS is the fourth largest employer in the world and holds a unique place in the hearts of the public, but it’s facing real workforce pressures. National strategy is important, but real progress depends on what we do in our communities. We have a chance to connect with the next generation to show them that careers in the NHS are not only possible, but vital. By supporting their development now, we can build a skilled and inspired workforce ready to deliver on the NHS’s ambitions and the government’s ten-year health plan.”

“This is a wake-up call,” added John Yarham, Interim CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company. “The interest from young people is widespread and growing – but it risks going to waste. We need to come together to create a system that works for students and the NHS, closing the loop between aspiration and opportunity. If we connect the dots between what young people want and what the NHS needs, we won’t just save money – we’ll save lives.”

ABOVE: Darcy is pictured, eighth from the left, with members of the CEC’s Health Advisory Group including (to her immediate right) Shajeda Ahmed, chairwoman of the Health Sector Advisory Group, followed by Baroness Morgan, chairwoman of the CEC. [Photo Credit: CEC]

ABOVE: Darcy at the Palace of Westminster ahead of the skills report launch. An experience which she described as ‘special’ and one that made her feel ‘valued’. [Photo Credit: Darcy L]

ABOVE: Earlier this year, Darcy (left) with fellow Year 10 careers ambassador Evelyn W presented their thoughts on careers provision to peers and professionals at a careers hub student voice event hosted by the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Growth Skills Hub, in partnership with the CEC and the HEY Careers Hub. [Photo Credit: Viki Foster]